HAITI

Haiti, officially “The Republic of Haiti”, occupies one-third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, sharing it with the Dominican Republic. ‘Ayiti’ (Haiti) was the indigenous Taíno name for the island. Its highest point is Chaine de la Selle, at 2,680 meters. The total area of Haiti is 10, 714 sq. mi. (27,750 km²) and its capital is Port-au-Prince. Haiti remains the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. About 80% of the population lives in abject poverty, ranking the country second-to-last in the world.

Nearly 70.5% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. The country has experienced little formal job creation over the past decade. It has consistently ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world.

Roman Catholicism is the state religion, which the majority of the population professes. An estimated 20 percent of the population practices Protestantism. A sizeable percentage of the population in Haiti also practices the religion of Vodou (Voodoo), whether exclusively or alongside Roman Catholic observances.

Working in partnership with a local Haitian church in Hinche, medical teams reach out to the families of Hinche and surrounding rural areas by providing free clinics and home visits several times each year. Planning is underway to assist in a “Clean Water Project.” This project has brought clean water to 375 homes in the Hinche area and is providing lasting benefit to the families with improved health. The hope is to expand this project to reach every home in Hinche.

www.hcmin.org